To what shall we compare it? It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil. But once sown, it grows up
and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden, and even grows branches so big, that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.” Jesus used many
such stories, in order to proclaim the word to them in a way that they would be able to understand. He would not teach them without parables; but privately to
his disciples he explained everything.
Lectio Divina:
READ: Jesus compared the Kingdom of God as seeds sown by a farmer that
grows into a bountiful harvest in due season without the farmer concerning
himself with the growth process. He also compares it to the small seed of a
mustard that later on grows into a large plant whose branches is home to birds
later on. With these symbolic stories He proclaims the word in public, while
explaining its meaning in private to His disciples.
REFLECT: The Kingdom of God as a concept is a mystery. It is not a physical
type of Kingdom that occupies physical space. If it is so, it would have been easy
to define it. But it is not. It is God’s mysterious working in our physical world. It
starts in the hearts of men and women of goodwill. They need not congregate
or form a group. They may be independent from one another but they do things
with one aim. And these independent initiatives will just later form a critical mass
that will catch the world unawares. That is why individually, they look small.
But when taken together finally, they are huge enough to change the world.
RESPOND: We are all components of God’s Kingdom. Are our words and actions
tend towards the building of God’s Kingdom? Why don’t we consciously do
something regularly no matter how small? This keeps the hope for the Kingdom
of God to finally come alive. Let us consciously identify one good thing we can
do on a regular basis and watch the wonder of God’s Kingdom growing right
in our sight.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021